Cairo is full of interesting mosques. The oldest and most celebrated
is the Mosque of Omri. It is one of the earliest of Mohammedan temples
in Egypt. They have a service there but once a year, when the khedive
himself comes. The interior seems a veritable forest of pillars. One of
these is a most remarkable pillar. I will tell the story of it as my
boy Mohammed Mousa told it to me: "This pillar very important one--very
holy. This pillar sent by Mahomet here; for when Omri come to build this
mosque Mahomet so pleased he sent pillar from Mecca. The pillar come
here. He find no other pillar from Mecca here; so he get lonely and fly
back. Mahomet very angry, and send pillar back. Second time he fly back.
Mahomet then get very angry, draw his sword, and strike pillar, and
tell Omri to put pillar in prison. So he put it in prison, and it stand
there." That is the story that they all believe.
[Illustration: THE OLDEST PYRAMID, SAKKARA]